Single-trigger mechanism.



No.' 67o,|oo. Patented Mar. |9,`|90l. c. E. DE Lona. SINGLE TBIGGER MECHANISM.

(Applicgtionled Oct. 22, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheetsl-Sheet l.

@Ze f mmm: L @0672@ l (Zarf No. 670mm.` Patentadmar. le, |901.

c. E. ne Lona.

SINGLE TBIGGER HECHANIS.

UNITED CHARLES E. DE LONG, OF HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS.

SINGLE-TRIGGER MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 670,100, dated March'19,1901.'

Y Application filed October 22,1900. Serial No. 33.879. lNo modela I 1b all, w/tom t may concern.-

Be it known that l, CHARLES E. DE LONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Hot Springs, county of Garland, State of Arkansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Single-Trigger Mechanism, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, such as will enable others-skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingr drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view, vpartly in section, of a portion of a gun provided with myimproved single-trigger mechanism. Fig.

2 is in part a topplan view and in part a horizontal longitudinal sectional view, the same being taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isahrizontal longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3 3, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 4, Fig. 1. Figs.

. 5 to 9, inclusive, are detailside elevational single-trigger mechanism.

views, partly insection, of the principal mech anism employed in'carrying'out my invent-ion, said views illustrating diterent positions taken by the parts during the manipu- Fig. 10 isa perspecployed in carrying out my invention. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of a gun, illustrating in position thereon my improved Fig.'12 is a side elevationalview, partly in section, of a modified consti-notion of my improved single-trig- 'ger mechanism. Fig. 13 is atop plan view'of the same. Fig. 14 is an inverted plan view of the same. Fig. ljs Aa detail side elevar tional view of a portion of one of the sears employed in carrying out my invention as illustrated in Figs. 12, 13, and A14. Fig.. 16 is a detail side elevational view of a portion of y the trigger em ployed in the construction illustrated in Figs. 12, 13, and 14;,and Fig. 17 vis an inverted perspective view of the slide employed in carrying out my invention as illustrated in Figs. 12, 13, and 14.

This invention relates't-o a new and useful improvement in single-trigger mechanism for guus having a pl nrality of barrels, one object being to enable the operator to successively release or trip the tiring mechanism by the of said firing mechanisms.

manipulation of a single mechanism in the form of a trigger.

' Another object o f this invention is to provide means to take `care of what is known as er with what is termed a stiff finger or 6o g does not immediately upon pulling the trigger relax the pressure of his finger on the sume, Which involuntary pull might result/in tiring the second barrel in quick succession.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the combination of a plurality of tiring mechanisms and a single-trigger mechanism adapted to coperate successively with all of said firing mechanisms or With but one The in ventiou also consists in the arrangement, construction, and combination of the several parts of my improved single-trigger mechanism, all as will hereinafter be more fully described and afterward pointed out iu'75 the claims.

In thedrawin'gs AI have shown in Figs. 1, 2,' 3, and 4 my improved single-trigger mechanism. as applied to a well-known form of tiring mechanism, which latter is illustrated solely 8.o for the purpose of showing the application of my device to-a well-known construction; but it will be obvious to those skilled in, the art to which my invention relates that the improved single-trigger mechanism hereinaf 85 terdescribed can be applied to any formof firing mechanism, and therefore I do not wish to be. understood as limiting myself to the ,particular form of tiring mechanism shown.

In the drawings, A indicates what is known 9o` as the frame, B thebarrels, C the lifterarll rangedponthe fore-end, (not shown,) D the hammer, E the Sear, F the maiuspring, G the trigger-tumbler, H the thumb-piece, l the tang, and J the top lever, all of vsaid parts being practically of the usual and well-known. construction of the firearm commonly called a double-barrel ham merless shot-gun.

The general construction and operation of a double-barrel hammerless shot-gunis well roo.

understood, and a detailed l.description here is hardly necessary, but for vpurposes of exand upon the release of the barrel-locking y inserted in the barrels.

mechanism by the manipulation. of the top lever J the barrels swing on a pivot (not shown) vv/hfichfin addition to actuating the ejectipg mechanism' in general, also sets in motion the cooking mechanism, of which the lifter C, cooperating with the forwardly-projecting end of the hammer D, forms a part. When one or both barrels of the gun have been ired and it is desiredto reload the gun, the top lever .I is moved laterally, usually to the right, which movement' unlocks the barrels,allowinir'them to swing` on their pivot- `point and eject or extract the shells, as the case may be, after which new shells may be This movement also cocks the hammers of the gun, and si multaneously with the unlocking of the barrels the safety attachment is actuated, to which safety attachment is connected the thumb-piece H. This safety attachment consists of a slidable bolt K, directly operated by the top lever J, which bolt moves rearwardly when the lever is manipulated. A rocking lever L, suitably pivoted to a projection a, formed on or secured to the frame A, and whose lower end is provided with' a transversely-disposed pin Z, is design-ed to coperate wiIh a projection on the trigger-tumbler and prevent its upward movement when the gun is in a safe position. A bar M, pivotally connected to the upper end ot' the lever L, has its outer or free end directly in the path of movement of (and is designed to be struck by) the bolt K. The extreme upper end of this rocking lever L coperateswith two projections Z Z", depending from and secured to the thumb-piece Il for actuatingthe latter, the projection L" being provided with a laterally-disposed pin Z", which cooperates with a leaf-springt', mounted upon the tang I, the object of which is to hold said thum b-piece in its extreme forward or rearward positions in order to prevent accidental movement of the same. The lower end of this rockinglever L provided with a forwardly-disposed projection 1, arranged at an angle to said bar L, the purpose ofwhich will hereinafter be explained.

Itwill thus be seen from the above and from an inspection of Figs. 1 and' ll of the drawings that when the barrels of thegun have been-swung ontheir pivot in the opening movement the hammers will have been cocked and the gun brought ,to a safe position, and after the barrels have been closed and locked in their position forfiring the hammers will still remain cocked, but the slide-bolt K will have moved forwardly away from the free end of the bar M, so `that when it is desired to iiie the gun the thumb-piece H is moved forwardly--and throughthe instrumentality ofthe projections l and Z'. move the upper end of the-lever and the bar M forwardly and the lower'lend of said lever L and its carried pin .rearwardly out of the path of movement of the projection formed on the trigger-tumbler G and permit of the upper movement of the latter.

Referring now to the construction illustrated in Figs. l toll, inclusive, of the drawings, wherein I have added two pieces to the mechanism, which pieces are what might betermed a stepping scar-.controller N and its actuatinir-sprlner O. The only material change made to the original construction ol' the gun is in the formation of the several notches or steps which I have provided vin the trigger-tumbler G, `which is designed -to cooperate with the stepping` scar-controller N, as will hereinafter be described.

While in the foregioing` I have referred to G as a trigger, I 'wish it here umlerstood that it is in reality a .tumliler, and hereinafter l will refer to it as such, or, rather, as the primary triggeretumbler, and its companion G', I shallpresently refer to as the secondary tumbler.

lThe primary trigger-tumbler G is pivoted to a block or bearing` a, formed on the frame A of the gun, and is designed to have its web portion move through a slot am, formed in said frame, the finger portion ol' said primary trigger-tumbler being located below said frame, as is usual. Formed in the upper edge and near the rear end of the web portion of this primary trigger-tumbler Gis a series of notches or steps, which l have numbered l., 2, and 3, and projecting' rearwardly over the notch 3 is formed an over-hanging projection 4, the purpose of which will be presently explained.

The stepping sear-controller N, (see Fig. 10,) which is designed to cooperate with the notches or steps of the primary trigger-tumbler j ust described, consists of a strip of metal n, provided with a downwardly-extending biful-cated portion n, the eXtreme-ends of the two members n" and 'nX" of which are formed with forwardly-bent portions n4 and a5, or, in other words, these bent lportions extend approximately toward the barrels of the gun. At the junction ofthe portion 'it-and the downwardly-extending portion n of this stepping' Sear-controller two steps or shoulders 'n and a7 are provided, the same being preferably made by first forming a slot ns in the portion 'n and then sawint;` two kerfs coincident with the longitudinal sides of the slot for a suitable distance into the portion n', after which the strip or tongue between these sawkerfs is bent or crimped into the desired shape, as will be readily understood. When this stepping scar-controller is in proper position in the gun and when the trigger is in its normal or lower position, it is designed to rest upon a bridge or projection cui, its bent portion cooperating with one of the notches l, 2, or 3, depending upon whether either one or both of the barrels of the gun have been fired. In order to hold and guide this stepping searcontroller in place in the performance of its work, I have made use of the screw or bolt P, employed in guns of this design to stien IOO and tie together the frame of the gun and the tang, said screw P passing through the slot ns and being secured to the bridge a4. To further steady and guide this stepping soar-oontroller, I make use of the projection l"", which passes through the slot forming the bifurl t catedoportion fn of the' stepping seal-conportion n,adjaceut the edges of said bent portion. (See particularly Fig. 11.)l

.illustrated indotted lines in Fig. 1.

While I have referred in the above to the primary trigger-tumbler only and its carried notches or steps, I will here state that there are two triggertumblers and that in the construction illustrated in Figs. l to 11, inclusive, I have omitted the linger projection on the second or right barrel trigger-tumbler, which I have termed the fsecondary tuinbler and which I will now designate as G'. The finger portion of this secondary triggertnmbler G can, if desired, be retained, as is only one trigger-tumbler is provided with the finger portion, the barrel controlled by that trigger-tumbler will always be the first to be iired; but when both tumblers retain their finger portions that trigger-tumbler which is lirst pulled will tire the barrel which it directly controls and then without removing the inger from that trigger-tumbler the other barrel can be fired by proper manipulation of the same. This secondary trigger-tumbler G' is provided with notches or steps and the overhanging projection,precisely the same as the stops or notches 1, 2, and 3- and the overhanging projection 4 of the primary triggertumbler G, and is preferably made with the same dies as is said trigger tumbler G. When said notches and said over-hanging projection of said secondary 'trigger-tum:

bier G' are referred to hereinafter, they will' be designated as l, 2a, and 3a and the overhanging projection as 4,

The construction and operation of the triggers, sears, and hammers of a'gun of this type are so Well known that I deem it unnecessary to give a detailed description of the same here; but for the sake ofclearness I will mention that the sears, both left and right, coperate with the primary trigger-tumbler Gand the secondary tumbler G, respectively, in the same manner as they do with the triggers in any double-trigger gu'n--to wit, the

upward movement of the triggers or tum-- blers causes the operation of the sears and eects the tripping of the hammers.

I will now describe the operation of my improved single-trigger mechanism and will When' call attention to Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, of the drawings.

' Fig. 5 represents a view of' the parts as they appear after the gun has been cocked and in4 a position ready to be fired, and in which f it will be observed that the primary triggertumbler is in its normal or lower position and the portion 'n of the stepping searncontroller is resting upon the bridge or projection d4 and the first shoulder 71,6 is resting against one side of said bridge d4, and thereby arrests forward longitudinal movement of said stepping soar-controller. The bent portions n4 and p5 on the lower ends of Ithe bifurcated portion n' are seated in the notches or steps l and 1a of the primary trigger tumbler G and secondary tumbler Gf', respectively. When the 'primary trigger-tumbler G is pulled andv moves upwardly, the seat' controlled by said trigger-tumbler will be actuated and` release the hammer and lire the shell in on'e barrel--in this instance the leftand simultaneously with this movement the stepping-scar controller will be forced upwardly until its shoulder fn rises above the bridge a4, whereupon the spring 0 will exert its pressure to move the stepping scar-controller longitudinally and forwardly until the free or forward end of said stepping scar-controller contacts with the block a. The parts are now in the position shown. in Fig. it

being understood that in this above-menl tioned movement of the parts the secondary tumbler G remained undisturbed, but the bent portion 'n has been raised out of the step 1*. 'When pressure on the trigger-tumbler G is relaxed and the same is allowed to recover its normal position, the parts 'will assume the position shown in Fig. 7, wherein it will be seen that when the trigger-tum bler descended the stepping scar-controller also descended until the downward 'movement of the latter was arrested by the contact of the under face of the shoulder fn with the bridge a4, but at this stage the trigger-tumbler had not completed its full return movement and in doing so l the notch or step lV of said trigger-tumbler moved away from the bent por- 4tion fn? and the spring 0 forced said stepping sear-controller in the proper direction to cause the bent portions n4 and fr'to register with and become engaged by the steps 2 and 2, respectively, of the trigger-tumblers G and G and. cause the second shoulder rt7 to bearfagainst the side of the bridge a4 and arrestfurther forward movement of said stepping scar-controller. rlhe first barrel of the gun has now been iired, and by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings provision is made to take care oi the involuntary pull due to the recoil of 'the gun, although I will here state that this feature ot' my invention may be dispensed with by omitting the steps 2 and 2au of the triggers, which would mean that the second pull of the trigger would directly fire the second barrel. According to the construction shown the tirst lOS EID

pull of the trigger will fire the first barrel, as above described, the second or involuntary pull will be intermediate and accomplish noth ing, while the third pull will fire the second barrel. rThis involuntary pull, just referred to, if it occurs at all Will take place just after the parts reach the position illustrated in Fig. 7 and is accounted for as follows: When the triggerstu'mbler G is involuntarily pulled from its position in Fig. 7 to that of Fig. 8, it will be seen that said trigger-tumbler G in its upward movement raises the steppingsearcontroller until its second shoulder m7 rides above the bridge a, whereupon through the pressure of spring O the stepping scar-controller will move forwardly until the under face of said shoulder m7 is directly above said bridge d1. In this position of the parts the bent portion n is still in the step 2 of triggertumbler G, while, as before, the secondary trigger-tumbler G' has remained undisturbed and the bent portion 'a5 will have moved out of the step 2 of the secondary tumbler G', which it just occupied. When the primary trigger-tumbler is relaxed, the parts will take the position illustrated in Fig. 9, and in so doing will have iirst caused the downward movement of the stepping scar-controller to be arrested by the under face of the shoulder n.7 contacting with the bridge of* and by the continued movementot the trigger-tumbler G will cause the notch 2 of said tumbler to move away from the bent portion 'n.4 and through the instrumentality of spring O cause the bent portions 'a4 and its to move into the steps 3 and 3 of the primary trigger-tumbler G and secondary trigger-tumbler G, respectively. lt will be seen from the above that the trigger-tum bler G has been pulled twice, its tirst movement tripping the sear which'it controls and firing its respective barrel,while the second pull of said trigger simply actuated the scar without result other than the idle movement of the latter, and during these two movements of the primary tumbler the secondary trigger-tumbler G remained undisturbed. The next movement of trigger-tumbler G from the position shown in Fig. 8 will cause both said trigger-tumbler G and the secondary trigger-tumbler G to be raised, whichis due to the fact that both of the bent portions ne and a7 are in their respective steps 3 and 3a of trigger-tumblers G and G and also due to the fact that both of these steps 3 and 3 are provided with the .overhanging projections 4: and 4:, respectively. Hence when the trigger-tumbler G is raised it in turn raises the stepping Sear-controller and causes the bent portion m7 to contact with the overhanging portion et of the secondary from unlocking the barrels and setting the' safety mechanism, performs the additional function of ,restoring the stepping scar-conu troller to its initialpositio-n. .This latter is accomplished through the instrumentality of the slidable bolt K striking the free end of the stepping `scar-controller and forcing the same rearwardly until the first shoulder n is slightly beyond the bridge a4 and the bent portions n4 and h5 are in their respective notches 1 and la of the trigger-ftuinblers. The

barrels now being swung on theiry pivots performed a forwardlywextending portion G" onl both the primary and secondary trigger-tumblers G and G', which forwardly-extending portions G coperatie with the hammers of the gun in like manner as did the ordinary sears. These trigger-tumblers, both primary and secondar', are each-provided with the notches 1, 2, and 3 and the overhanging projection 4 and the notches l, 2a, and 3 and the overhanging portion 4, respectively, and are designed to have coperate therewith the stepping scar-controller N in like manner as they do in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to ll, inclusive. In this construction I make use of a single trigger G", the same being arranged between the trigger-tumblers G and G' and is prefeiably pivote'd at a point coincident with the pivot-point of 4the trigger-tumblers. Q indicates a slidable bar-designed to be carried by and cooperate with the trigger Gl and, depending'upon its position on said trigger, will coperate with` one or the other of the pri-mary or secondary trig- A ger-tumblers G and G in order that the right or the left barrel of the gun will be fired li'rst when the trigger is pulled, the second barrel of the gun being tired subsequent theretoin the same manner and by the employment of the same stepping Sear-controller and its co operating means as that heretofore described with reference to the construction illustrated in Figs1 to 11, inclusive, of the drawings. This bar Q is formed with a longitudinal slot q, designed to receive the web portion of trigger G"l and rest upon the laterally-extending lianges g of the same, said bar Q being provided with an upturned portion q, -fcrmedon its rearmost end, and is provided with a slot q2, through which passes a projection g", formed on the rearmost edge of the web portion of trigger G'". As is clearly illustrated in Figs. 12 to 17, bar Q is formed with a sunken central portion, whereby only its ends will rest upon the lateral flanges g of the trigger.

The object of this is to allow of a certain l amount of spring of this central portion for retaining said bar and its `carried parts in a ister with and become engaged by one or the other of two notches g2 and g3, formed in the under edge of the web portion of thel trigger, it being obvious that a portion of the lateral lianges g are omitted at this point. The slot q, formed in the bar Q, is somewhat longer than that portion of the web of the trigger with which it cooperates, and by which construction independent longitudinal movement of bar Q on the trigger is allowed. When said bar Q is at the limit of its rearward stroke, as seen in Fig. 12, its upturned end q' is beyond the end of the primary trigger-tumbler G; and when in this position, if the trigger is pulled it will not move the same. The secondary trigger-tumbler G' is made somewhat longer than its companion G, and in the position of the parts as illustrated in Fig. 12 is in the path of movement of said upturnedend q',and when the trigger is pulled this secondary trigger-tumbler G' will be forced upwardly and release the hammer which it controls and tire one barrel of the gun. The next movement of the trigger, through the instrumentality of .the stepping scar-controller, (not shown in this figure, but which is identical with that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive,) will take care of the involuntary pull of the trigger, and the next or third pull of the trigger will tire the second barrel of the gun.

Inthe position of the parts just described, and illustrated in Fig. 12, the right-hand bar- .rel of the gun will always be tired Iirst, and

when it is desired to have the left-hand barrel fire first the finger-button R and its carrier-bar Q are moved forwardly luntil the pointed projection on the shank of the button registers with and engages the notch g2, which movement brings the upturned portion q' under the primary trigger-tumbler G and intov registration vwith a slot or recess gx, formed in the under edge of the secondary trigger-tumbler G',(see Fig. 15,) and in which position of the parts the raising of the trigger will raise only said primary trigger-tumbler G' and cause the left barrel of the gun to be red, as is obvious;

I am aware that minorv changes in the arrangement, construction and combination of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-f- 1. The :combination With a plurality of firing mechanisms, in which are included hammers and sears, of a pri mary'lrigger-.tumbler for cooperating with one scar and hammer, a secondary trigger-tumble;` for cooperating with the other sear and hammer, and an inde ,Y pendently-operable stepping scar-controller cooperating with said primary trigger-tumbler and said secondary tigger-tumbler,and`

means for operating one of said trigger-tumblers independently of said stepping Sear-controller whereby said secondary trigger-'tumbler is actuated only after the primary trigger-tu mbler has been independently m anipulated; substantially as described.

2. The combination with a plurality ofiring mechanisms, in which are included hammers and sears, of a primary' trigger-tumbler.

for coperating'with one scar and ham mer,a secondary trigger.- tumbler for coperating with the other seal-and hammer, an independently-operable stepping Sear-controller,

means for causing said stepping scar-con` troller to coperate with said primary trigger-tumbler ands'aid secondary trigger-tumbler, and means for operating one of saidv trigger-tumblersindependently of said stepping soar-controller whereby the latter is actuated only after the former has heen inde` pendently manipulated; substantially as described.

3. The combination with a plurality of ring mechanisms, in which are included hammers and sears, of a primary trigger-tumbler for cooperating with one sear and hammer, a secondary trigger-tumbler for cooperating with the other sear and hammer, an independently-operable. stepping scar-controller, a spring for causing said stepping scar-controller to cooperate with said primary trig- Iger-tumbler and said secondary trigger-tn mbler, and means for-operating one of said trigger-tumblers independently of said stepping sear-con'troller whereby the latter is actuated only after the former has been inde IOO pendently manipulated; substantially as dey scribed.

4. The combination with a plurality of firing mechanisms, in which are included hammers and sears, of a primary trigger-tumbler for coperating with one hammer and sear, a

secondary trigger-tumbler for cooperating with the other hammer and scar, a plurality of steps or notches formed in said primary trigger-tumbler and secondary trigger-tumbler, an independently-operable stepping searcontroller for cooperating with said steps or notches in said primary trigger-tumbler and said secondary tumbler, a spring for causing said stepping scar-controller to engage with,l

and be retained in, one of the notches of either or both of said primary or said secondary trigger-tumblers, and means for operating one of said trigger-tumblers independently of-said stepping scar-controller whereby the latter can be actuated onlyafter the yformer has been independently manipulated; substantially as described. 1

5. The combination with a plurality of irlsecondary trigger tumbler for cm'perating with the other hammer and scar, said primary `trigger-turn'bler and said secondary tumbler l being each provided with a series of notches p or steps, an independently-operablestepping Sear-controller for cooperating with sai-d .notches fin 'said primary trigger-tumbler and said secondary tumbler, a spring for coper- `vating with said stepping searfcontroller for Vcausing the same to properly7 cooperate withA the notches `in said primarytrigger-tumbier and saidsecondary tumbler, 'a 'shoulderformed on, said stepping sear -fcontrollen means for Aoperating` one ofsaid trigger-tumblers independently of said stepping scar-'controller and a support for thestepping sear- -controller,"and with which said shoulder c0- operates in the performance of its Wofrk'; substantially as described. l

6.' The combination with a'iring mechanism, of a trigger, a` trigger-tumbler'co minou lo said trigger and said firing mechanism',said.

v trigger-tumbler being hinged or pivoted at scribed. l. l

7. The combination with a firing mechan` ism, ofatrigger, a trigger-tumbler common to one end., and being provided with steps or notches 1 andf, and an overhanging portion 4, at its other end, and astepping Sear-controller cooperating with said notches and said overhanging portion; substantially as desaid trigger and said vfiring mechanism, and a stepping scar-controller-coperati ng with said trigger-tumbler, said sear-controller consisting of a Ilat bar having a bent portion and a shoulder formed approximately at the junction of said dat and bent portions, the free end of said bent portion having an inturned lip for cooperating with notches in the trigger tumbler; substantial-ly as described.

8. The combination with a tiring mechanism, of a trigger, a trigger-tumbler common to said trigger'and said firing mechanism, and a'stepping Sear-controller consisting of a body portion ma bifurcated portion n arranged at an angle thereto, the two prongs of the bifurcated portion having inturne'd lips 'n4 and 915, and a shoulder n@ located kat approximately the vjunction'of the portions 'n and n; suby,

stantially as described.

9. The combination with a'ring mechanism, of a trigger, a trigger-tumbler common to said trigger and said firing mechanism, and a stepping scar-controller consisting of a body portion n, a bifurcated portion n arranged t an angle thereto, the prongs of said bifurcate portion havinginturned lips 'n4 and p5, and shoulders 11.6 and n7 arranged at the junction of the portions n and n; substantially as described.

10. In a double-barrel, breakdown gun, the combination with the hammers, sears, top lever and slidable bolt K, of a. primary triggertumbler for coperating with one'hammer and Sear, a secondary trigger-tumbler for coperating with the other hammer and soar, said primary trigger-tumbler and said secondary tumbler being eachv provided withinv series of, notches or steps, an independently-operable stepping sear-controller for cooperating with saidnotches in` said primary trigger-tumbler and said secondary tumbler and-connecting said tumblers together whenl said stepping scar-controller is in certain positions, and a spring''orvforcing said stepping scar-oontroller forwardly when the same is released by the. proper manipulation of the primary trigger-tumbler in the` performance of its Work, the free or outer end of said stepping scar-controller being located directly in the pathofmovement of, and designed to be` struc-k by, the bolt K in its rearward Inovernent, when the top lever is properly manip-uiated' to unlock the barrels of the gun; snbstantially as described. I

'1 1. The combination with a plurality of liring mechausmsg'in which areincluded h`am mers and sears, of a primary trigger-tumbler -for cooperating with onesear and hammer, a

secondary trigger-tumbler for coperating with the other scar and hammer, and an independently-operable stepping scar-controller coperating with said primary triggertumbler and said secondary tumbler for preventing the second or involuntarypull-of said primary trigger-tumbler from actuating said secondary trigger-tumbler but permit-v ting a third pull of said primary trigger-tum-f hier to actuate said secondary tumbler; substantially as described.

12. The combination with a piurality of firing mechanisms, in which are included hammers and sears, of a primary trigger-tumbler -for cooperating with one scar and hammer, a

secondary trigger-tumbler for cooperating with the other near and hammer, an independently-operable stepping scar-controller, and means for causing said stepping searcontroller to'coperate with said primary trigger-tumbler in such manner that the second or involuntary pull of said primary triggertumbler will not actuate said secondary trigger-tumbier, but will permit said secondary tumbler to be actuated only upon athird pull of said primary tumbler; substantially as described. y

13. In a breakdown gun, the combination with a pair of trigger-tumblers, of a pair o f hammers which are actuated thereby, an independently-operable steppingsear-controllerfor cooperating with said tumblers, and means for actuating one or the other o said tu mblers first, independently of said stepping searcontrpller whereby the other trigger-tumbler not actuated first, will be actuated by said stepping scar-controller upon a subsequent manipuiation of said means; substantially as described.

14. In a breakdown gun, the combination with a pair of'triggei-tumblers of a pair of hammers which are actuated thereby, an im IIi dependently-operable stepping scar-control;

ler for coperating with said tumblers, asingletrigger for coperating with one'or the" other of said trigger-tumblers,V and means carried by said single trigger and extending to th exterior,whioh means, when manipulated t-o one of its two positions, will cause one or the other of said trigger-tumblers to be actuated rst, the other of said trigger-tumblers-- being actuated'by said stepping seawcontroh 1er upona pull of said ysingle trigger subsequent to the pull which actuated the first tumbler.; substantially as described.

15. .The combination with a pair of tum- -blers fora device of the character describedL of an independently-operable ste ping searcontroller for coperating with t e same, a single trigger, a slide-bar arranged on, and carried by, said' single trigger, said slide-bar being provided' with a projection designed to lcooperate with Ioneor the other of said tumbieraand means carried by said slide=bar and coperating with said single trigger for determining the positionlot` the former, one of saidftu'mblers'being of greater length than its companion 'and being provided with a notch, whereby, when lsaid slide-'bar' is in its extremejrearward position, the upper moveiment of said single trigger will permit the projection formed on the--slide-bar -which is carried by said trigger, to pass by and not. .disturb the shorter tumbler, but will contact with and raise the longer tumbler, and, when said slide-bar is in its foremost posit-ion, said projection-'on said slide-bar Will, in lhe'up- Y ward movement of said "trigger, contact 'with the shorter tumbler and raise the same, said projection registering with,'andvmoving into, the notch formed in'the longer'tumbler, and by so doingleaves said longer tumbler undisturbed; 's'ubstantially as described. 

